Darts icon Adrian Lewis hasn’t given up on winning another Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship, but he’s extended his PDC hiatus for another season
Adrian Lewis was once the champion of the world – and he hasn’t given up on the dream of retaining his title.
However, it won’t happen this season, with Jackpot extending his hiatus from the PDC for another year. Lewis surrendered his PDC tour card last season as he dropped out of the top 64 due to inactivity.
Lewis now plans to remain away from competitive action for personal reasons and he will only play in exhibition events for the MODUS Super Series. However, he hasn’t ruled out a return to the upper echelons of the sport.
“I’ve not gone to Q School this January. I’m writing that off. I’m hoping the following year,” Lewis told The Sun.
“I want to enjoy the game again. I can’t go in half-hearted, I need to go in there 100 per cent. Full heart and soul into it. That would be the way back. Will that mean I’ll get the motivation back? I am hoping so.
“When you’ve been doing something for 20 years, it takes its toll on you. I need a break from it. There’s no reason why I cannot go and get my Tour card back.
“I have had loads of well-wishes. Everywhere I go, people say, ‘When are you coming back?’. I say, ‘Not yet. When I’m ready, I’ll be back’.”
Lewis won back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012, but he has taken time away from the oche in recent years to look after a sick family member. In his absence, Luke Littler has shot to superstardom.
Littler, 17, is the new king of darts – crowning himself as World Champion earlier this month after he put Michael van Gerwen to the sword with an extraordinary performance at the Ally Pally.